Protective cap and fluid cylinder assembly

ABSTRACT

A fluid cylinder body is provided with a protective cap. The cap fits over the cylinder valve handle and has a notch to receive a retainer pin carried on the cylinder. A spring is centrally disposed within the cap and bears against the handle through a pusher plate to releasably secure the pin in the notch and also protect the handle. The pusher plate may be configured to aid in centering the cap around the handle. A second spring may be provided to help bias the pin against a notch detent.

United States Patent [191 Chambers et al.

[111 3,831,802 [45] Aug. 27, 1974 PROTECTIVE CAP AND FLUID CYLINDERASSEMBLY [76] Inventors: Harley Edward Chambers, 550 W.

93rd St., Los Angeles, Calif. 90045; Richard E. Hoagland, 120 S. SierraMadre Blvd., Pasadena, Calif. 91 107 22 Filed: o.12,1971 21y App1.No.:188,152

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No.93,668, Nov. 30,

1970, abandoned.

[52] US. Cl. 220/40 R, 137/382, 220/85 P [51] Int. Cl B65d 41/06 [58]Field of Search 220/40 R, 85 P, 40 S;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1898 Koehme 137/3829/1920 Orofino.... 220/40 R 12/1931 Wayer 137/382 1,887,700 11/1932Stevens 220/40 R 1,948,953 2/1934 Wayer et a1. 220/85 P 2,216,71710/l940 Alessio 270/85 P 2,590,270 3/1952 Pratt 220/40 R 2,805,79510/1957 Barnes 220/40 R 2,838,064 6/1958 Schieberl 137/382 FOREIGNPATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 879,330 10/1961 Great Britain 220/40 R PrimaryExaminer-George E. Lowrance Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Henry M. Bissell[57] ABSTRACT A fluid cylinder body is provided with a protective cap.The cap fits over the cylinder valve handle and has a notch to receive aretainer pin carried on the cylinder. A spring is centrally disposedwithin the cap and bears against the handle through a pusher plate toreleasably secure the pin in the notch and also protect the handle. Thepusher plate may be configured to aid in centering the cap around thehandle. A second spring may be provided to help bias the pin against anotch detent.

8 Claims, 6 Drawing 1F igures PATENTEDIUBZTIW 3.831.802 SHEEI 1 I 2M/VfN TORS 1 /4/91 5y 5. CHAMBERS ,Q cHA R0 5. HOAGLA/VD B I rzfy. 1 W

AWORNEY PAIENIED 974. 3. 831.302

INVENTORS HARLEY E. CHAMBERS RICHARD 5. H04 GLAND ATTORNEYCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is acontinuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 93,668, filed Nov. 30,1970, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This inventionrelates to valve protective means for fluid cylinders and to cylindersincorporating such means.

2. Description of the Prior Art Various devices have been used toprotect valve handles, valve stems and couplings on fluid cylinders,such as compressed gas cylinders, against damage. In the main, suchdevices are usually expensive and complicated and/or are time-consumingto make and use. For example, threaded protective caps have beenemployed, but damage often occurs to the threads, rendering the capsunusable. The threads are likely to corrode, making removal of the capsdifficult. Moreover, screwing the caps in place is time-consuming; sinceboth the cap and the cylinder body must be threaded, special machiningoperations increase the cost of such devices. Accordingly, there is aneed for a simple, inexpensive, quickly attachable and detachableprotective cap for fluid cylinder valve assemblies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is generally as set forthin the Abstract and extends to both an improved valveprotecting fluidcylinder cap and to the improved cylinder assembly which includes thecap. The cap contains a generally centrally aligned spring which extendstowards the cylinder handle. A second spring can be disposed adjacentthe inner surface of the shell so as to enclose the handle and valvecoupling when the cap is in place. Such a cap is simple and inexpensiveto construct, and is particularly easy and rapid to secure in place andalso to remove. In securing the cap in place, the retainer pin carriedon the cylinder is positioned in the notch in the cap and then the capis turned to lock the pin in the notch. The pusher plate helps centerthe cap around the valve handle during this process and the spring(s)hold(s) the cap locked in place by biasing the pin in the notch againstthe detent defined by the notch. The spring connected to the pusherplate also aids in cushioning the valve (through its handle) from shockdamage, and since the cap is spaced outwardly from the handle,additional protection is provided against valve damage. The pin-notchretention system is also much more resistant to damage than are threadedretention systems, does not jam in use, and is much easier and quickerto remove and replace.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A better understanding of the presentinvention may be had from a consideration of the following detaileddescription, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevation of a first embodiment of theimproved cylinder assembly of the invention, with the improvedvalve-protective cap thereof removed from the cylinder body and withportions broken away to illustrate certain intezmal features thereof;

FIG. 2 is a schematic side elevation of a second embodiment of theimproved cylinder assembly of the invention, again with the cap thereofremoved from the cylinder body, and with portions broken away toillustrate certain features thereof;

FIG. 3 is a schematic side elevation of the assembly of FIG. 2, but withthe cap in place, certain features being illustrated in phantom outline;

FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of theimproved cylinder assembly of the in vention with the cap in place;

FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of a modified form of theembodiment of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a cap for use in the modified embodimentof FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Now referring to FIG. 1, a sideelevation is schematically illustrated of a first preferred embodimentof the improved valve-protective fluid cylinder assembly of theinvention. Thus, an assembly 10 is shown which includes a fluid cylinder12, such as for compressed gas, and a valve cap 14. The cylinder 12includes a main shell or body 16, having a. neck 1l8 adjacent one endthereof and valve means disposed in neck 18. Means 20 comprises a valvecoupling 22., valve stem 24 and valve handle 26 extending outwardly fromcylinder 12 in an unprotected position. Neck 18 is shown with at leastone pin 28 projecting outwardly therefrom adapted to cooperate withmeans on cap 14 for releasably securing the cap 14 to the neck 18. 'Apair or more of the pins 28 are typically provided. Assembly 10 is alsoprovided with connector means 30 which comprises a cord 32 with one end34 attached to cap 14 and the other end 36 formed into a loop 38disposed around coupling 22 so as to loosely secure cap 14 to cylinder12 when the cap 14 is not in use. Obviously cord 32 can be of anysuitable material, such as wire, cloth, sisal, etc. and cylinder 12 isof conventional construction.

In assembly 10, however, the cap 14 is of special shape andconstruction. In this regard, cap 14 comprises a hollow, generallycylindrical shell 40 having a closed end 42 and an opposite open end 44.Shell 40 can be fabricated of any suitable self-supporting durablematerial such as plastic, metal, wood, ceramic or the like, preferablymetal, and can be other than cylindrical in shape, if desired, but inany event is dimensioned to fit over means 20 and be spaced outwardlytherefrom. End 44 of shell 40 defines a bayonet-type notch 46, althoughany other suitable configuration for notch 46 can be used. Thus, notch46 includes an initial, upwardly directed vertical portion 48 and asecond, shorter downwardly directed vertical portion 50 separated by atransverse portion 52, whereby a detent 54 is provided to releasablylock retainer pin 28 in place, i.e., lock cap 14 to neck 18 through pin28 and notch 46.

A generally centrally disposed, vertically extending helical spring 56of any suitable construction is secured to the inner surface of shell 40adjacent end 42, as by a bolt 58 extending through an opening 60 in end42 and through a hole 62 in a plate 64 disposed within shell 40. A nut66 secures plate 64 in place against the adjacent surface of shell 40and the upper end of spring 56 is secured, as by welding or the like, toplate 64. The lower opposite end of spring 56 is secured to a generallycentered pusher plate 68 adapted to bear against handle 26 when cap 14is in place around means 20. The spring 56 is dimensioned so as to exertenough force via the plate 68 to aid in holding the pin 28 in fixedposition in the notch 46 when the cap 14 is in place and to securelyseat the valve stem 24 in the cou pling 22.

In rapidly releasably securing the cap 14 to the cylinder l2, portion 48of notch 46 is aligned with pin 28 and then the cap 14 is pushed downuntil pin 28 reaches portion 50. The cap I4 is then turned to move notch46 so that pin 28 is aligned with portion 52, after which cap 14 isreleased and pin 28 seats in the bottom of portion 52 against detent 54so as to inhibit further movement of cap 14. When in place, cap 14totally encloses means 20 and is spaced outwardly therefrom. End 44closely overlies the adjacent surface of neck 18 and spring 56 maintainsforce on handle 26 through plate 68 to cushion it from shockstransmitted to handle 26 through cap 14 and/or body I6 or neck 18, andalso to securely seat stem 24 in coupling 20 against movement, includingrotation. Thus, cap I4 is easily and rapidly yet firmly secured in placeand, once it is so secured, fully protects means 20 from physicaldamage.

Cap 14 can be easily and rapidly removed from cylinder 12 by reversingthe described procedure. It will be understood that a pair of pins 28with matching notches 46 can be and preferably are employed in assemblyand, if desired, three or more such sets of pins and notches can be usedto facilitate the attachment to and removal of cap 14 from cylinder 12.

In FIG. 2, a second embodiment of the assembly of the invention,including the novel protective cap, is schematically illustrated in sideelevation. In FIG. 2, components identical to those illustrated in FIG.1 are identified by the same numbers as used in FIG. I, but succeeded bythe letter a. Thus, as shown in FIG. 2, an assembly 10a includes acylinder 12a having a cylinder main body 16a and neck I8a and also valvemeans 20a (including a coupling 22a, stem 24a and handle 26a), aplurality of retainer pins 28a (one of which is shown) and a connector30a comprising a cord 320 having end 34a secured to cap 14a and end 36a,particularly loop 38a, around coupling 20a. Cap 14a includes shell 40awith closed end 42a and opposite open end 44a containing a plurality ofnotches 460 (each comprising portions 48a, 50a and 52a defining detent54a). A vertical spring 56a is secured to shell 40a at end 420 by bolt58a (through hole 60a of shell 40a and hole 62a of plate 64a) and nut66a. Pusher plate 680 is secured to the opposite end of spring 560 andincludes an arcuate peripheral portion 70 corresponding to the rim 72 ofvalve handle 26a and a recessed central portion 74 corresponding torecessed portion 76 of handle 26a. Plate 68a is dimensioned to looselyfit over handle 26a so as to aid in seating cap 14a on cylinder 12a overprotecting means 20a.

Cap 140 further includes an annular generally horizontally extendingspring 78 disposed within shell 40a adjacent the lower end thereof andabutting the inner surface thereof. The upper end 80 of spring 76 isfixedly connected to the inner surface of shell 4011 while the lowerfree end 82 is provided with a pusher bar 84 extending through a notch46a, particularly the transverse portion 500 thereof. Spring 78 aids inbiasing pin 28a against a particularly shaped detent 55 in notch 46a andthus cooperates with spring 56a to releasably lock pin 28a against thatdetent 55.

Cap 14a is releasably secured to cylinder 12a in the same manner asdescribed for cap 14 and cylinder 12. When secured in place, cap 14a ispositioned with respect to cylinder 12a as shown schematically in FIG. 3in side elevation. The internal components of cap 140 and means 200 areshown in phantom outline in FIG. 3. It will be readily understood thatcap 14a is as easily and as rapidly secured to and removed from cylinder12a as cap 14 is with respect to cylinder 12. Spring 78, however,additionally protects against inadvertent twisting and removal of cap14a. Moreover, the particular configuration of plate 68a aids, as do theplurality of pins 28a and notches 46a, in more easily and rapidlyaligning the cap 14a with 12a for attachment thereto.

In FIG. 4, a third embodiment of the assembly of the invention,including the novel protective cap, is illustrated in sidecross-sectional view. In FIG. 4, components identical to thoseillustrated in FIG. 1 are identifled by the same numbers as used in FIG.1 but succeeded by the letter 0. Thus as shown in FIG. 4, an assemblyincludes a cylinder having a cylinder main body and neck 18c. Thecylinder 12c also comprises a valve 200 (including a coupling 22c, stem24c and handle 26c), and a pair of retainer pins 280. Although notshown, it is to be understood that the connector 30 can also be used inthis embodiment. The cap 14c includes a shell 400 with a top 420 and anopen end 440 containing a plurality of notches 460. A conical spring 560is secured to the shell 400, as by crimping the upper end thereof in adepending projection 90. Alternatively, the arrangement of FIG. 1 may beemployed. A pusher plate 68c is located beneath the lower end of thespring 560 to bear against the handle 260.

In the particular embodiment of FIG. 4, the neck is provided with anupwardly extending collar member 92 which, as shown, is threadablysecured to a threaded member 94 having an inverted, generally U-shapedcross-section closely abutting the neck 18c and suitably secured theretosuch as by peening the upper part of the neck 180 at point 96. Thecollar 92 has an upwardly extending flange portion 98, generallycircular in transverse cross-section and having an internal diametersufficient to receive the reduced diameter open-end portion 440 of shell400. The notches 46c are configured like those in FIG. 1 but the pins280 extend radially inward to engage with notches 460. The pins 28c ofthis particular embodiment are provided with slotted end portions 29 andcan be, for example, threaded studs inserted through threaded aperturesin the flange portion 98 for ease of replacement. At the juncture of theinside of the flange portion 98 with the threaded member 94, thesurfaces of both are tapered downwardly to form a trough portion 100having a width greater than the thickness of the shell 40c and a depthgreater than the vertical portion 520 of slot 460. This permits the openend 440 of shell 400 to be depressed into the trough I00 and thenrotated and released for securing the cap 140 to the collar 92. In thisparticular embodiment, certain advantages are achieved by having thepins 286 protected against accidental shearing by being mounted flushwith the outer surface of the flange portion 98.

In FIGS. 5 and 6 there is shown a modified form of the embodiment ofFIG. 1 to accommodate gas bottles having a narrow neck diameter. In FIG.5, components corresponding to those illustrated in FIG. 1 areidentified by the same numbers as used in FIG. I but succeeded by theletter d. In this configuration, the cap 14d is an elongated cylindricalmember having an upper end 42d and a lower, open end 44a. As betterillustrated in FIG. 6, the cap has a pair of diametrically opposedbayonet type notches 46d having the generally inverted .I-shapedopenings shown in the valve cap of FIG. 1. More than two such notchesmay be provided if desired to match corresponding pins such as 28d (FIG.5).

In the modification as shown in FIG. 5, the neck 18d is provided with acollar 102 of inverted generally U- shaped cross-section having anenlarged outwardly extending flange portion 104 for engaging thecylinder 12d outer surface adjacent the neck 18d. The collar 102 issuitably secured, such as by welding or peening at 106. The collar 102is provided with radially outwardly extending pins 28d for engagementwith notches 46d as previously discussed. Moreover, the collar 102 is soconfigured as to be useable with either outwardly extending pins in thecylinder configuration of FIG. 5 or inwardly extending pins mounted in aflanged adaptor, as in FIG. 4.

Accordingly, an improved valve protection system for fluid cylinders isprovided. Such system may include the cylinder with protective cap andemploys easily obtainable, inexpensive and durable components, readilyfabricated and assembled. Such system protects the cylinder in animproved manner over conventional means by spring cushioning the valveagainst physical shocks, while enabling more rapid and foolproofsecuring of the protective cap to the cylinder. Other advantages are asset forth in the foregoing. Such modifications, alterations, additionsand changes as are within the scope of the appended claims are intendedto form a part of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An improved fluid cylinder assembly which comprises, in combination:

a fluid cylinder body having a plurality of retainer pins extendingoutwardly from said cylinder body at spaced intervals and at least aportion of a valve, including a valve handle, extending outwardlytherefrom, wherein said handle is secured to said cylinder body througha valve coupling external of said body;

a valve cap disposed around and releasably enclosing said valve handle,said cap comprising a selfsupporting hollow shell spaced outwardly ofsaid valve handle and open at one end thereof, said one end abuttingsaid cylinder body in the region of said valve handle, and defining amatching set of configured notches for releasably receivingcorresponding ones of said retainer pins, a spring generally centrallydisposed within said shell adjacent the opposite end thereof andextending towards said open end, spring retaining means securing one endof said spring to said shell at said opposite end and a valve handlepusher plate secured to the free end of said spring, whereby said cap isreleasably retained centered around said valve handle to protect thesame from damage; and

a second spring generally annularly disposed within said shell adjacentthe inner surface thereof and around said valve coupling, one end ofsaid annular spring being secured to said shell and the opposite endthereof being disposed in said notch in abutting relation to at leastone of said retainer pins.

2. The improved assembly of claim 1 wherein said notch is of the bayonettype and defines a pin detent and wherein said first and second springscooperate to releasably lock said retainer pin against said detent toreleasably hold said cap against said cylinder body.

3. An improved fluid cylinder assembly which comprises, in combination:

a fluid cylinder body having at. least a portion of a valve, including avalve handle, extending outwardly therefrom;

a valve cap disposed around and! releasably enclosing said valve handle,said cap comprising a selfsupporting hollow shell spaced outwardly ofsaid valve handle and open at one end thereof, said one end abuttingsaid cylinder body in the region of said valve handle, and defining aplurality of configured notches disposed about and communicating withthe open end of the cap;

the valve cap further including a spring generally centrally disposedwithin said shell adjacent the opposite end thereof and extending towardsaid open end, spring retaining means securing one end of said spring tosaid shell at said opposite end and a valve handle pusher plate securedto the free end of said spring; and collar member attached to saidcylinder body and encircling said valve portion, the collar memberincluding an upwardly extending flange portion shaped to receive thevalve cap therein and supporting a plurality of said retainer pinsextending inwardly therefrom to releasably engage corresponding ones ofsaid notches, whereby said cap is releasably retained centered aroundsaid valve handle to protect the same from damage.

4. The improved assembly of claim 3 wherein said flange portion has atrough portion therein, said trough portion being so configured andhaving a depth sufficient to receive said valve cap during attachmentthereof to the collar member.

5. The improved fluid cylinder assembly of claim 3 wherein the cylinderbody has a threaded neck portion, and wherein the collar member has atleast a portion of the inner surface thereof threaded for matinglyengaging said threaded neck portion.

6. An improved protective cap for a fluid cylinder containing a valvehandle extending outwardly from the cylinder body, which cap comprises:

a self-supporting hollow shell adapted to be releasably secured aroundsaid handle in spaced relation to protect the same, said cap being openat one end thereof and defining at said open end a configured notchadapted to releasably receive a retainer pin in a member attached to thecylinder body;

a first spring generally centrally disposed within said shell adjacentthe opposite end thereof and extend ing towards said open end;

spring retaining means securing one end of said spring to said shell;

valve handle pusher means secured to the free end of centrally disposedwithin said shell adjacent the opsaid spring and adapted to releasablysecure said cap to said cylinder through said pin and notch; and

a second spring generally annularly disposed within posite end thereofand extending towards said open end, and spring retaining means securingone end of said spring to said shell at said opposite end, the free endof said spring being adapted for engaging said valve to releasablyretain said cap centered around said valve handle to protect the samefrom damage.

8. Protective apparatus for a pressurized fluid cylinder having a valvemechanism extending outwardly from the cylinder body adjacent a threadedneck portion thereof, said apparatus comprising in combination;

in said notch, whereby said two springs cooperate to releasably locksaid pin in place in said notch when said cap is secured around saidhandle. 7. An improved fluid cylinder assembly which comprises, incombination:

a fluid cylinder body having a threaded neck portion an adapter foraffixing to the cylinder body, said and at least a portion of a valve,including a valve adapter comprising a circular collar having interiorhandle, extending outwardly therefrom; threads for engaging the threadedneck portion, the a collar member having at least a portion of the innercollar encircling the valve mechanism and includsurface thereof threadedand matingly engaging ing an upwardly extending flange portionsupportsaid neck portion, said collar member encircling ing a pluralityof inwardly extending retainer pins the valve portion and having aflange portion exfor releasably retaining a protective cap thereon;tending upwardly from said neck portion, and and flange portion having aplurality of inwardly exprotective cap for releasably attaching to saidtending retainer pins secured thereto; adapter comprising aself-supporting hollow shell a valve cap disposed around and releasablyenclosing open at one end and defining thereat a plurality of said valvehandle, said cap comprising a selfconfigured notches for releasablyengaging corresupporting hollow shell spaced outwardly of said spondingones of said retainer pins, said cap also valve handle and open at oneend thereof, said one containing a biasing spring for bearing againstthe end having a plurality of configured notches for recylinder andurging the cap outwardly from the cylleasably receiving correspondingones of said reinder against the retaining means in a locked positainerpins, said one end being configured to be retion. ceived within saidflange portion, a spring generally

1. An improved fluid cylinder assembly which comprises, in combination:a fluid cylinder body having a plurality of retainer pins extendingoutwardly from said cylinder body at spaced intervals and at least aportion of a valve, including a valve handle, extending outwardlytherefrom, wherein said handle is secured to said cylinder body througha valve coupling external of said body; a valve cap disposed around andreleasably enclosing said valve handle, said cap comprising aself-supporting hollow shell spaced outwardly of said valve handle andopen at one end thereof, said one end abutting said cylinder body in theregion of said valve handle, and defining a matching set of configurednotches for releasably receiving corresponding ones of said retainerpins, a spring generally centrally disposed within said shell adjacentthe opposite end thereof and extending towards said open end, springretaining means securing one end of said spring to said shell at saidopposite end and a valve handle pusher plate secured to the free end ofsaid spring, whereby said cap is releasably retained centered aroundsaid valve handle to protect the same from damage; and a second springgenerally annularly disposed within said shell adjacent the innersurface thereof and around said valve coupling, one end of said annularspring being secured to said shell and the opposite end thereof beingdisposed in said notch in abutting relation to at least one of saidretainer pins.
 2. The improved assembly of claim 1 wherein said notch isof the bayonet type and defines a pin detent and wherein said first andsecond springs cooperate to releasably lock said retainer pin againstsaid detent to releasably hold said cap against said cylinder body. 3.An improved fluid cylinder assembly which comprises, in combination: afluid cylinder body having at least a portion of a valve, including avalve handle, extending outwardly therefrom; a valve cap disposed aroundand releasably enclosing said valve handle, said cap comprising aself-supporting hollow shell spaced outwardly of said valve handle andopen at one end thereof, said one end abutting said cylinder body in theregion of said valve handle, and defining a plurality of configurednotches disposed about and communicating with the open end of the cap;the valve cap further including a spring generally centrally disposedwithin said shell adjacent the opposite end thereof and extending towardsaid open end, spring retaining means securing one end of said spring tosaid shell at said opposite end and a valve handle pusher plate securedtO the free end of said spring; and a collar member attached to saidcylinder body and encircling said valve portion, the collar memberincluding an upwardly extending flange portion shaped to receive thevalve cap therein and supporting a plurality of said retainer pinsextending inwardly therefrom to releasably engage corresponding ones ofsaid notches, whereby said cap is releasably retained centered aroundsaid valve handle to protect the same from damage.
 4. The improvedassembly of claim 3 wherein said flange portion has a trough portiontherein, said trough portion being so configured and having a depthsufficient to receive said valve cap during attachment thereof to thecollar member.
 5. The improved fluid cylinder assembly of claim 3wherein the cylinder body has a threaded neck portion, and wherein thecollar member has at least a portion of the inner surface thereofthreaded for matingly engaging said threaded neck portion.
 6. Animproved protective cap for a fluid cylinder containing a valve handleextending outwardly from the cylinder body, which cap comprises: aself-supporting hollow shell adapted to be releasably secured aroundsaid handle in spaced relation to protect the same, said cap being openat one end thereof and defining at said open end a configured notchadapted to releasably receive a retainer pin in a member attached to thecylinder body; a first spring generally centrally disposed within saidshell adjacent the opposite end thereof and extending towards said openend; spring retaining means securing one end of said spring to saidshell; valve handle pusher means secured to the free end of said springand adapted to releasably secure said cap to said cylinder through saidpin and notch; and a second spring generally annularly disposed withinsaid shell adjacent the inner surface and said open end thereof, withone end of said second spring secured to said shell and the opposite enddisposed in said notch, whereby said two springs cooperate to releasablylock said pin in place in said notch when said cap is secured aroundsaid handle.
 7. An improved fluid cylinder assembly which comprises, incombination: a fluid cylinder body having a threaded neck portion and atleast a portion of a valve, including a valve handle, extendingoutwardly therefrom; a collar member having at least a portion of theinner surface thereof threaded and matingly engaging said neck portion,said collar member encircling the valve portion and having a flangeportion extending upwardly from said neck portion, and flange portionhaving a plurality of inwardly extending retainer pins secured thereto;a valve cap disposed around and releasably enclosing said valve handle,said cap comprising a self-supporting hollow shell spaced outwardly ofsaid valve handle and open at one end thereof, said one end having aplurality of configured notches for releasably receiving correspondingones of said retainer pins, said one end being configured to be receivedwithin said flange portion, a spring generally centrally disposed withinsaid shell adjacent the opposite end thereof and extending towards saidopen end, and spring retaining means securing one end of said spring tosaid shell at said opposite end, the free end of said spring beingadapted for engaging said valve to releasably retain said cap centeredaround said valve handle to protect the same from damage.
 8. Protectiveapparatus for a pressurized fluid cylinder having a valve mechanismextending outwardly from the cylinder body adjacent a threaded neckportion thereof, said apparatus comprising in combination; an adapterfor affixing to the cylinder body, said adapter comprising a circularcollar having interior threads for engaging the threaded neck portion,the collar encircling the valve mechanism and including an upwardlyextending flange portion supporting a plurality of inwardly extendingretainer pins for releasably retaining a protective cap thereon; and aprotective cap for releasably attaching to said adapter comprising aself-supporting hollow shell open at one end and defining thereat aplurality of configured notches for releasably engaging correspondingones of said retainer pins, said cap also containing a biasing springfor bearing against the cylinder and urging the cap outwardly from thecylinder against the retaining means in a locked position.